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Commissioners approve 120-day letter of intent to seek funds for Pirates Cove purchase
Summary
The board voted to authorize a letter of intent giving Commissioner Jeff Kennard 120 days to seek private funding to supplement a county offer to acquire the Pirates Cove property; motion carried 4-1 after debate over impact-fee use and maintenance responsibilities.
The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted on March 25 to authorize a letter of intent that gives Commissioner Jeff Kennard up to 120 days to pursue private contributions to supplement a county offer for the Pirates Cove property.
Why it matters: Commissioners stressed competing county priorities — notably additional park capacity and youth sports fields — and debated whether park impact fees and other county funds should be used if private dollars do not materialize.
Commissioner Jeff Kennard, who moved for approval, said the letter of intent does not obligate the county to close and is intended only to buy time to solicit private support for a purchase the county previously offered $900,000 to acquire. "All I'm asking for today is the opportunity to go ask them," Kennard said. He said any public money used would be limited to the $900,000 offer already on the table and that any additional amounts, including closing costs, would rely on private contributions.
Commissioners asked how the county would pay for both the Pirates Cove purchase and planned sports-field expansions. County staff provided park-impact-fee balances: about $2.2 million countywide in reserve and only small remaining balances in some district accounts. The record shows multiple potential sources were discussed including district park impact fees, countywide impact fees, and a Duke Natural Gas Special Projects fund described by the proponent as reserve money set aside when a different plant came online.
Board members split over prioritization. Commissioner Janet Barrick argued impact fees should be spent in growth areas that serve more residents year-round and voiced concern about using limited park funds for a property that floods at times. Commissioner Diana Finnegan and others emphasized the county collects impact fees specifically to expand park capacity, and Commissioner Holly Davis said she would support Kennard's effort to seek private funds.
County Attorney staff noted the draft letter of intent contained clerical errors and asked for authority to correct legal references before the chair signs; Chair Rebecca Bays said she would not sign substantively altered terms without returning to the board.
The motion to approve K1 A and B (letter of intent) passed 4-1. The county did not buy the property at the meeting; the vote authorized the letter of intent and the 120-day fundraising window. The board directed county legal staff to clean up document references before finalizing anything for signature.
Ending: Commissioner Kennard will pursue private fundraising and report back to the board. If the board receives a proposal that requires county funding beyond the previously stated $900,000 offer it will return for further approval.
